Sometimes You Just Want to Squish Them

One evening when I was busy with the baby, I heard a great deal of whispering and conspiring going on, but my mother antennae were not registering anything too suspicious, so I waited to see what would develop. I was glad I did. No florist on the planet could make a more pleasing arrangement for me, complete with a real bird's nest in the center.

They brought it to me in the usual fashion, hands behind the back, asking, "Which hand do you want?" And I played my usual game of trying hard to choose the wrong hand first. It takes so little to make a child's day, and a mother's as well. This collection certainly made mine. I pour out for my children day after day, until sometimes it feels like there is not so much left to give. Amazing how energizing a little love gift like this can be!

Small Boys and Their Toys

This year the landscaping that I have babied and weeded and fertilized and trimmed and mulched for about 5 years is really repaying my work by blooming and growing vigorously. I love gardening, especially ornamental stuff.

One morning this past week, my very busy sons had an especially energetic stirring of creativity. They made a huge puddle with water and mud and pretty much anointed themselves with the smeary stuff, so I had forbidden them to come into the house until I had time to clean them up. I blithely finished my project inside the house, and stepped outside to check on their activities. Imagine my pained surprise to discover that they had turned into nesting birds on the front porch. The nest consisted of a butchered pampas grass that had been the cornerstone of my landscaping. Around it were strewn many clematis buds for food. There were plastic eggs in the nest and the birds also felt compelled to make wings and tails out of hemlock boughs. It was actually kind of cute in a destructive kind of way. Thankfully they had enough pricking of conscience to do most of their picking on the back sides of the plants. So you can't really see the damage, except for my poor pampas grass, which is reduced from a glorious round bunch to a skinny, straggly plant.




There are days when I think wistfully of "Farmer Boy" and his sun-up to sun-down chores with his father right beside him. Oh, he had a grand life, but just not as much time to get into mischief as the modern small boy. Since school is out and the warm weather has come, Alex and Greg are out the door as soon as their chores in the house are done. Which is great, mostly... They only get those clever ideas once a week or so, and usually they are harmless enough, like building space ships in the back yard or rearranging all the swings on the playset so they have a jungle gym.

Nevertheless, I was delighted with the brilliant purchase Gabe made at a yard sale this weekend. Three cases of K'NEX!!! Hundreds and hundreds of pieces to make amazing stuff. They have afforded hours and hours of play already during the rainy spots of the last few days. They are a super way to get the creative juices used up in a constructive way. Nate, you would absolutely love them. Come play with us! ...Just don't step on the connectors barefooted.

Homespun Fun

There's a shelter for the homeless in our living room today.
It is furnished with stacks of books, and stuffed toys.
They must be literate animal lovers, these squatters.

Meanwhile, in the backyard, they have constructed a curious craft.
This is not a trike, but a boat motor,with seat for the rower behind,
All floating on a section of old wooden railing.

There are days when I ask myself seriously whether it is worth letting them make these colossal messes.We have a grand reckoning every evening before Gabe gets home, cleaning up the rubble in the house so he can get inside the door. Almost daily, I remind the boys that they will need to clean up whatever project they embark upon. It never seems to deter them, so I figure they are getting in their practice as inventors of strange and wonderful things. And I get used to finding my laundry baskets conscripted into cupola duty.

Snips and Snails

Sunday afternoon.

Mama sends little boys to their bunks for quiet time.

Five minutes later she checks on them.

Big Boy sticks his head over the edge of the top bunk.

"Mama, remember that you said I just have to rest, not sleep?"

"Yes... so what did you take along to bed with you?"

"Well, just a rubber band gun to shoot my Teddy. It's quiet...

"...and a couple of Legos... and a magnifying glass to look at stuff really close."

Really? That's all? No frogs or puppy dog tails?

Wait a Minute...

What has sprung up in my garden?

Let's take another look.

Hey, there's a sign pasted on the front.

What a relief! No more crocodiles in our garden!